The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-31
SUSPECTED OF SCHEMING
Politicians Question Gray's Motives in
Opposing Harrison and Gapen.
The Move Believed To Be for the Political
Advancement Of the Governor and Bynum
A Bitter fractional Fight Threatened.

The bond of Joseph l.. Carson, as president of
the State Benevolent Boards presented to
the Governor yesterday, but the Secretary of
State having closed his Office for the day. the
document was not formally filed. The sum ex-
pressed is Sc coo and the suretes are E. B. Ans
den, Cyrenus Bishop, James o. Parrish,
W. C. Vance and G. W. Holmes. all
from the principals county. Joseph Flacks
bond will probably be ready to-day. 1t
is not the intention OF Mr.. Carson to hurry into
litigation. He seems 70 think that DR.. Harrison
will finally submit without having the matter
paraded in the courts, but the Doctor, unless he
has changed his mind and wishes TO pose as
martyr will do nothing of the kind. lie was
not in the city yesterday. but enough is known
as to his purposes to almost warrant the posi-
tive statement that il Carson desires to carry
out the object of the Governor whatever 1t is,
he will have to call lawyers to his aid. While
many would heartily like to see Harrison ana
Gapen out of the way, the more the question Is
investigated as to the points oflaw involved, the
more it is thought the Governor had no right to
appoint until there was resignation, removal or
forfeiture of the Office
Harrison and Gapen claim that their support
ers constitute nine-t of the party through
out the State, and are industriously but quietly
making all they can out of the situation to place
the Governor in the rear ranks of his party. 1t
is charged that there is between him ana
Bynum understanding to share the control OF
the Democracy in the next campaign for the
benefit of each. The antiBynum faction is
therefore appealing to the party 10 stand oy
Harrison and Gapen. 1t is said Carson was
always in the heat of the factional fight in his
county in the interest of Bynum. During the
affair of last summer Scott Ray abused him
T RaT but hs IN assistance s in as
Surfing the Governor that the Shelby county
Democracy would be greatly pleased II ne
would appoint Carson to Harrisons place III
is a peculiar position for Democratic Governor
to assume" said of his party yesterday. TO
practically indorse the charges that have been
made against Harrison and Gapen, and that,
too in the face of an investigation by Democrat
ic Senator's Carson is an honest man, but he Is
not the one to be president of the State benevo
lent Boards. He has always been kicker. ana
last fall participated in the congressional con
vention Bynum delegate. Throughout that
turbulent period he steadfast for Bynnm,
and is yet. So is Flack. In appointing
them. the Governor has not only virtually
helped the Republicans by tacitly admitting that
the charges against Harrison and Gapen are
true, but has torn open the old wound IN ms
party by selecting men who are supposed to be-
long to a minority faction. Thesact OF the mat
ter is Bvnum and Gray have made q deal with
the purpose of securing the governorship for tho
first-named and the United States senatorshp
Tor the second. 1T Is possible tnaL tHlS plan VIII
be clearly defined before long. But in any
event outside of ambitious motives the Governor
has virtually Endorsed Bynum by appointing
two of his stanch friends to important Offices"
a leading Democrat and eX-State Senator was
asked yesterday what he thought of the Govern
or's action. Not much" was the reply, with a
tince Of sarcasm. Gray. you know, is the
greatest man in Indiana and whatever he does is
right" Party leaders say that if the Governor
is actuated only by desire to relieve the Democ-
racy of scandalous administration OF the In
sane Hospital he ought TO have appointed Harri
son and Gapens successors Immediately after
the General Assembly adjourned. If his posi-
ton is right it would have been right then and
he could have given the party a chance TO adjust
itself to a condition. After the party had
settled down to tho policy of sustaining Harri-
son and Gapen the Governor should have ac-
cepted that policy good Democrat. But
withal the general belief is that the Governor is
pursuing a plan that has not yet reached the
critical test.